NAILBA Perspectives Spring 2019 | Page 8

NEWS Strengthening advocacy, professional development through NAIFA partnership Dan LaBert, NAILBA CEO and NAIFA CEO, Kevin Mayeux, CAE “NAILBA and NAIFA have worked together on previous programs that benefit our members, and we welcome the evolving collaborative relationship to advance our missions of advocating on behalf of the industry, our members and the clients we serve.” Dan LaBert – NAILBA CEO Emily Holbrook Emily Holbrook is former editor in chief of National Underwriter Life & Health and Retirement Advisor magazines. Her business, Red Label Writing, offers writing, editing and content strategy for insurance and financial services firms. She can be reached at [email protected]. 8 Perspectives Q2 2019 NAILBA has partnered with the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) to further support advisors and agents, the industry as a whole, and consumers. Specifically, the two groups have increased coordination of programs that support member professional development and networking, and political advocacy and engagement on Capitol Hill and in state legislatures across the U.S. “NAILBA and NAIFA have worked together on previous programs that benefit our members, and we welcome the evolving collaborative relationship to advance our missions of advocating on behalf of the industry, our members and the clients we serve,” NAILBA CEO Dan LaBert said. “Americans’ ability to save and plan for their futures is at an all-time low. Consumers need access to advisors and agents who can help them address the financial realities of retirement.” NAIFA CEO Kevin Mayeux, CAE, further explained, “This partnership reflects commitments from both organizations to create opportunities to leverage our organizational strengths while ensuring our members have the knowledge to serve their clients and to speak in a unified voice.” Opportunities for formal collaboration in the areas of membership and professional development include: NAILBA and NAIFA will each encourage membership in the other party’s organization. NAILBA and NAIFA will collaborate on mutually agreed upon professional development and education offerings including the NAIFA Life and Annuity Certified Professional (LACP) certification. Opportunities for formal collaboration in advocacy and government relations include: NAILBA and NAIFA will form a joint task force to foster greater collaboration of advocacy efforts and leadership across both organizations. NAIFA will represent NAILBA on agreed upon industry task forces and coalitions that work to advance the parties’ mutual interests on key legislative and regulatory issues. NAIFA will represent NAILBA on agreed upon issues in state capitals, before state insurance and other financial regulators, and at the federal level as appropriate. NAIFA can provide advocacy experts at NAILBA meetings, as well as lead government relations webinars and other presentations. NAILBA members can participate in NAIFA’s Congressional Conference and NAIFA state chapter Days at the State Capitol. NAIFA can provide grassroots advocacy training for NAILBA members, as well as access to NAIFA GovAlerts and other resources. There are a number of challenges coming from Washington, including state-run retirement plan proposals, tax reform, and federal and state efforts to revise the standards of care owed by advisors to their clients. Other challenges include recent amendments to New York State’s Regulation 187 that impose a complicated new standard of care on annuity recommendations and broaden the scope of that regulation to include life insurance as well as annuity products. “The mid-term elections brought dozens of new state and federal lawmakers in office,” LaBert said. “We need to build relationships and educate these new legislators about our members’ day-to-day activities, and to caution them against taking action that could be harmful to consumers’ access to needed and informed advice, products and services.” Watching Out for the Family Can be Simple Simplified Life Portfolio – Term Life Express | Living Promise (Final Expense) | Guaranteed ADvantage (Accidental Death) | Children’s Whole Life | Guaranteed Universal Life Express A Simplified Life Portfolio for a Variety of Needs Insurance is as much an act of love as it is a financial decision. Your clients are tightly-knit families of grandparents, parents, kids and grandkids. And they’re not looking for complicated products. Their life insurance needs may be simple but their lives may not. That’s why they’re looking for one carrier and one portfolio. Mutual of Omaha’s Simplified Life Portfolio delivers: Broad coverage The portfolio offers a range of product solutions from children’s whole life protection to providing funds for final expenses Simplicity Quick issue, simplified underwriting (no blood or urine tests required), e-App, easy quoting mobile app Trustworthiness Backed by a legacy brand with outstanding financial ratings and a reputation for quick disbursement, our simplified life portfolio provides security when the need occurs For price-sensitive clients who are looking for peace of mind from a carrier they can trust, talk to them about a simplified life product from Mutual of Omaha. Contact your marketer or visit mutualofomaha.com/sales-professionals. 453963 A+ A1 AA- (Superior) (Good) (Very Strong) This rating is the second highest of 16.* This rating is the 5th highest of 21.* This rating is the 4th highest of 21.* A.M. BEST MOODY’S INVESTORS SERVICE STANDARD & POOR’S INSURANCE Life Medicare Supplement Disability *as of 3/1/19 For producer use only. Not for use with the general public.